The National tribune., 1887-12-15


the afternoon we reached a place whore the
country for miles away 10 the east southeast /
and northeast broke away into succession Of 4
hills and valleys, Of fields and woods that were
grand To look upon, and admirably fitted for a
battlefield when artillery and infantry are |
mainly used About the center OF this section 1
of country was several large springs, which /
afforded abundant supplies OF water. Near by 4
Is the village of Perryvilie-a cluster of white 4
cottages in grove OF trees. From tins place /
the battle takes its name.
il was about three miles west Of the village, |
where the road ran down a hollow, that our /
division formed IN line of battle, two brigades /
on a ridge to the right Of the road, our brigade
ON a ridge to the left. Meanwhile, mile in
advance, our two guns commanded by Serg'Us
Booth and Graham, engaged three of the enc
mys guns, had hot artillery duel for several
hours, made them change position three times
and finally silenced them, driving them from
the field
THE BATTLE.
An the night of the 9TH, divisions Of troops
came up the road we were on, and another,
mile 20 the south, passed a mile or more TO the
front and formed in line Of battle-a line said
to have been IL miles long At dawn of the
sth skirmishing commenced. IL seems that the
fighting was precipitGted by the necessity of
our troops obtaining water. A small creek,
very nearly dry, was discovered by our ad-
vance, and Col. Dan. McCook was ordered to
drive the enemy beyond il and obtain sup
ply OF water for his troops This he did after
q sharp fight. The enemy was soon reinforced
and endeavOred TO drive McCOOks Brigade
back from It's advanced position. But McCo0k
in turn was supported by parts Of Sheridan's
and Miichell's Divisions and was strong enough
70 repulse them handsomely.
From this time i'm the morning until about 2
,. m. there was a lull in the fighting. We
waited in line of battle and listened with
impatience for the renewal of the struggle.
Then our brigade Col. Gooding commanding
was ordered 10 move up within close support
ingdistanee We were ready, and butts few min
utes elapsed before we started We marched on
down the hollow perhaps mile and took posi-
tion in a cornheld 20 the left of the road To
our left, and a little in front was a large grove.
To the front and right was high ridge bent
back like q bow. lis top and part of its sides
were covered with timber. To the right on its
top, in q small clearing, one Of our batteries
was planted. Directly in front, not half mile
away, was another Suddenly the latter opens
fire. and heavy column of smoke rises over the
woods and spreads out into ian-like clouds and
hangs over the scene. A few minutes later
and the battery on our right rings out The
iniantry on either side support IL with their
fire. The regiments in the rear Of il, lying
fiat on the ground, remain motiOnless. The
infantry firing increases in rapidly and the
cannon pour forth a dcadlier FIRE. All at once
the battery is silent. As If by magic a regi-
ment in lis rear springs 10 its feet rnshes for
ward through the battery with fixed bayonets
and charges down the eastern slope Of the
ridge, cheering as they CO. For few mo.
meuts the muslSetry is redoubled Then
q second regiment sweeps through the bat
tory, all this time silent, and hurls it upon the
eBemys lines. Soon third follows in like
manner, and then a fourth. The firing con-
tinues short time, gradually diminishes, and
finally ceases. The enemy made a desperate
charge On those guns but were successfully
repulsed with heavy loss.
Much time has passed 1t Is o'clock. The
hiring on the left bas become nearer, clearer.
deadier than" before. McCook, who easily
drove the rebels at first is himself being driven
IN turn Ia spite OF his most determined efforts.
Maj .-Geu. Gilbert and staff ride by with the
word that McC0Ok must be reinforced by our
brigade, or we will lose the day ON that part Of
the field. One Of our regiments had been sent
10 the right front, leaving ms but three. They
hle of through the grove on the left; we Timber
up and follow. We march through the grove
aud reacn lane running east and west. One
quarter mile ahead is our line OF battle. Our
men are rot firing. There seems 10 be a lull
IN The tempest We move down the lane, aud
presently pass body Of cavalry drawn up in
line ready ior a charge. A little further on
regiment What onet) or what is left Of IT,
passes 10 the rear. Right aiterward, strung
along the roadside we sec the blankets Of the
boys Of our brigade. They were thrown OF just
before they lell into line OF battle. Beside the
road, too are wounded men, brought of the
held by two oi their comrades. Just ahead is
Gen. McCOOk and staff. We hear him say TO
our Captain, " We have whipped them on the
right and cenier Iof bis e0rps and think this
brigade lneaning oursl VIII turn the scale on
the left. You are
just IN THE NICK OF TIME"
He showed the Captain where to plant the bat
terry. This was the last we saw Of anyone to
give orders. The place chosen was on an ele.
walton overlooking the country east of us. Di.
rectly IN front, perhaps 300 yards, was frame
house To its left wood, down into which
our infantry was sent. To its right and fur
ther of. aridRc, where the enemy had battery
TO the right Of their battery was a burning
house whence rose the column Of smoke VIZ
saw an hour before We went into battery on
the edge of wood 10 the right Of the lane ia,
enemys shells bursting all around ns. Their,
As only room for five guns the sixth remaining
idle. IL s $50 O'clock and the sun an h0ul
high. Our first shot rings out loud and clear
~ seems TO say 10 the rebels, =" There are oui
compliments we'll give you more" The boy
behave splendldly. They load and fire witt
such Tapldity, cooness and precision that the,
aftcrWafd received praise from all who sav
them. Their fire was terrible 10 the enemy
The rebel battery is compelled 10 change posi-
fi0n twice. Three times they attempt 20 tax
our battery by infantry charges, but by tn
sturdy VaiOr oi our support and by the dcstTuc
tive hre we pour upon them, they fail
An hour and three-Qnarters has passed. TIL
sun has gone down. Our support on the lof
has been whipped by greatly superior force
and ID compelled TO fall back, firing as they z,
The 59th H., which was on the extreme lefl
was Outiianked soon after going into battle
ref ad fQ rail IA
but dare not fire. for their comrades keep fall
inE back one after another 10 keep from bein
taken prisoners. The ped Ind. follows 500
niter, and the 18th III. leaves the field last
They ali march west up a ravine to our lci
and go back 10 their old position In the rcsery,
reporting our battery captured. During TIA
action Col G00ding, commanding the brigad,
A. taken prisoner. While the Adiutant Is with
drawing the brigade he is wounded-I thiul